Tides of Blood Villains (Spoilers)

[Schala_Zeal]

I am working on a build for my Tides of Blood campaign (I know - I'll probably have forgotten about this by the time I am ready to use it).   So everyone in that campaign can stay out or keep the knowledge OOC.

This build should be kept to level 2 of the optimization guidelines, though it may need to go a bit over that.  Anything from WotC should be available except for 3.0 material and Forgotten Realms sources.  Please cite sources as I do not know where everything comes from.

The concept is a half-elf villain who is initially trained to research certain things and gifted with divination powers.  Her talents run along the lines of magic - either arcane or divine.  If she has divine magic, it will likely focus on the Blood of Vol from Eberron - she is trained by Blood of Vol fanatics.  She is also something of a scholar, engaged in researching arcana, religion, and history in search of signs for what her purpose in life is and to fulfill the goal her keepers have given her. 

In time, she will discover that she can siphon power from a new power source and will determine that this source should be worshiped by all on Eberron.  She will continue to refine her powers of divination until she is able to make direct contact with the power that she has discovered. 

For the build, I was interested in something like:
Archivist 5/Ur-Priest x/Divine Oracle y/Contemplative z

The following feats are needed:
Able-Learner (to get Bluff to 6 by level 5) [level 1 feat]
Iron Will [needed by 6th]
Spell Focus (Evil) [needed by 6th]
Skill Focus (Knowledge: Religion)

I understand that the Archivist spellcasting would be lost due to the Ur-Priest.  How would the Divine Oracle and Contemplative levels interact with the Ur-Priest?  Are there better entries for Ur-Priest than Archivist?  Any other recommended feats or tricks to improve the build?  I was thinking of exploiting Divine Meta-magic, possibly with Widen Spell.

Her ultimate goal is to research the Apocalypse from the Sky spell and cast it above Sharn, killing herself in the process. 

Also - any ideas on how to build Erandis d'Vol?

[Risada]

For Ur Priest you could try going with Warlock and later Eldritch Disciple, or Binder then Tenebrous Apostate (change fluff if needed). Since I'm AFB, I don't know if Apostate has full caster progression... I'm almost sure Disciple has full progression....

If going with DMM, Extra Turning is always good (unless Nightstick stacking is allowed  )

[Schala_Zeal]

For Ur Priest you could try going with Warlock and later Eldritch Disciple, or Binder then Tenebrous Apostate (change fluff if needed). Since I'm AFB, I don't know if Apostate has full caster progression... I'm almost sure Disciple has full progression....

If going with DMM, Extra Turning is always good (unless Nightstick stacking is allowed  )

Binder doesn't seem to have much synergy with Ur-Priest, though it does sound interesting.  Tenebrous Apostate is 4/5 progression, missing the first level.  It would also require Able Learner for spellcraft. 

The Warlock path sounds interesting - I might have to look at that.

Nightstick stacking won't be allowed - one of my players already asked.

[Blade2718]

You can't get 6 ranks of Bluff by 5th without adding it to your class skills somehow.  Cross-Class-Ranks = 0.5 * [(Character Level) +3].  Into the formula, you'll have a max rank of 4, though, yes you are buying them at regular price with Able Learner.  I'm sure there's a feat that will let this happen, though.

[Sinfire Titan]

Note: Archivist is one of the worst entries for Ur-Priest there will ever be. Reason? You lose all of your Divine Casting for taking a level of Ur-Priest.

A good entry is indeed Binder or Warlock, though Warlock needs a dip into a Good Fort save class in order to meet the requirements. Though it is a Gish entry, Hexblade 4/Paladin of Tyranny 2 can enter Ur-Priest.

Another good entry is NE Tiefling Incarnate using the racial sub levels. Granted, you can't enter for a while, but it makes the Divine Power that much more interesting when you have an Incarnate Avatar and Incarnate Weapon fully loaded. Great damage values there (though your villain is a half-elf).

But the most effective entry would be Wizard 3/Master Specialist 6/Mindbender 1 and grabbing the Divine Minion template for Wild Shape then cheesing your way into Arcane Heirophant. Rank 2 optimization right there.




















Wait a second: Why am I giving you advice that could kill us?

[Risada]

Wait a second: Why am I giving you advice that could kill us?

Maybe you want a REAL challenge from said NPC 

[Schala_Zeal]

But the most effective entry would be Wizard 3/Master Specialist 6/Mindbender 1 and grabbing the Divine Minion template for Wild Shape then cheesing your way into Arcane Heirophant. Rank 2 optimization right there.

Thanks for the help!  I am now (having realized that Able Learner doesn't work the way I had thought) thinking of having the character be a Focused Specialist in Enchantment, going into Master Specialist (Enchantment).  Then Ur-Priest and Mystic Theurge.  Are there any ways to get Enchantment spells and Mindsight to work on undead?

If I wanted to use the Divine Minion template, I would want to change it for wild shaping into undead for flavor reasons.  I would be fine with that, but I'm not sure what the equivalent undead forms would be.

Also - the character would be required to spend a few feats on Dragonmarks (from Eberron).  Would there be an easy way to just make it a template instead of requiring feats/classes?  I will try to come up with something but am horrible at judging balance.

Wait a second: Why am I giving you advice that could kill us?

You feel sorry for my lack of g-fu?  Guilty for reading spoilers?  Or have a nefarious plan to create a build with a glaring weakness you will exploit at the end? 

Thanks everyone for the replies and help!

[Runestar]

Would a beguiler5/mindbender1 work? They should have the skills necessary for you to enter ur-priest without too much investment.

[Schala_Zeal]

Would a beguiler5/mindbender1 work? They should have the skills necessary for you to enter ur-priest without too much investment.

I'll have to look it over later when I can access my books, but I really like the flavor for this.  Any ideas on what should happen after Ur-Priest is maxed out?  Possibly Heir of Siberys levels to advance Beguiler casting and gain a siberys dragonmark.

[Schala_Zeal]

So here's the build I'm looking at (I couldn't figure out a good way to get Trackless Step for Arcane Heirophant and it didn't really seem to fit the character):

Race: Changeling
Beguiler 5/Mindbender 1/Ur-Priest 2/Mystic Theurge 8/Recaster 4

Feats:
1: Racial Emulation [Elf] (Races of Eberron)
6: Mindsight (Lords of Madness)

I am thinking of burning the other feats for a dragonmark instead of going for any divine metamagic. 

[Risada]

Which Dragonmark you are planning to get? I think the one that could benefit you the most is Passage (some teleportation stuff for free)...

[Schala_Zeal]

Which Dragonmark you are planning to get? I think the one that could benefit you the most is Passage (some teleportation stuff for free)...

Seriously - Tides of Blood players stay out
[spoiler]
I get to make my own - the character is manifesting the Mark of Death, which doesn't (too my knowledge) have stats for it.  I was going to keep it in line with the current dragonmarks as far as what level of spells are received, but haven't determined what it can do yet.

There will be a few different paths available to it - one of which will emulate the creation of undead, used to turn Erandis into a lich.  Another will focus on controlling people who have the mark - dominate person, charm person, etc.  There could be other powers as well - I really haven't decided.  I don't know what would best fit the character - storywise, it would be the effects tied to dominating others with the Mark of Death unless there is an easy way for the build to trick a lich.  I imagine that could be done with some well-chosen illusions and suitable distractions, with the proper amounts of misinformation leading up to it.
[/spoiler]

[Blade2718]

Which Dragonmark you are planning to get? I think the one that could benefit you the most is Passage (some teleportation stuff for free)...

Just give them Dragonmark-like SLAs/powers and apply an ad-hoc modifier to the CR.

[Sinfire Titan]

But the most effective entry would be Wizard 3/Master Specialist 6/Mindbender 1 and grabbing the Divine Minion template for Wild Shape then cheesing your way into Arcane Heirophant. Rank 2 optimization right there.

Thanks for the help!  I am now (having realized that Able Learner doesn't work the way I had thought) thinking of having the character be a Focused Specialist in Enchantment, going into Master Specialist (Enchantment).  Then Ur-Priest and Mystic Theurge.  Are there any ways to get Enchantment spells and Mindsight to work on undead?

If I wanted to use the Divine Minion template, I would want to change it for wild shaping into undead for flavor reasons.  I would be fine with that, but I'm not sure what the equivalent undead forms would be.

Also - the character would be required to spend a few feats on Dragonmarks (from Eberron).  Would there be an easy way to just make it a template instead of requiring feats/classes?  I will try to come up with something but am horrible at judging balance.

Wait a second: Why am I giving you advice that could kill us?

You feel sorry for my lack of g-fu?  Guilty for reading spoilers?  Or have a nefarious plan to create a build with a glaring weakness you will exploit at the end? 

Thanks everyone for the replies and help!

There is a feat in the Dragon Compendium that allows mind-affecting spells to affect undead (halving the duration of the spell). Its a metamagic feat with a +1 spell adjustment. Libris Mortis has one, but it applies to Bardic Music, not spells.

As for applying Dragonmarks without wasting feat slots, my favorite way involves Dark Chaos Feat Shuffle and Elder Evils (which can result in infinite feats if abused, but gets 5 free ones if not). I'm not sure about a template myself.

[Schala_Zeal]

I'd rather avoid Shun the Dark Chaos as it seems overpowered.  Though I might need a bigger hammer...

I think I will create a template in line with the Dragonmark Heir prestige class which will be tentatively priced at +1 LA/CR (so taking it would increase the CR of an opponent by 1, in theory).  I might change it by removing the Least Dragonmark ability and adding a requirement that the character have the Least Dragonmark feat.  Not sure what other requirements to add to the template - as my players can attest, I like to apply dragonmarks to some strange things. 

Any suggestions on wording, thematics, balance, etc?  I was not sure what to do with the casting level - that might have to be dropped some.

True Dragonmark Heir:
[spoiler]
Abilities gained are based off of HD:
1: Least Dragonmark
3: Lesser Dragonmark
5: Improved Least Dragonmark
7: Improved Lesser Dragonmark
9: Greater Dragonmark
11: Improved Greater Dragonmark

* Least Dragonmark: The creature gains a dragonmark that is associated with one of the dragonmarked houses.  The character is treated as if they had the Least Dragonmark feat associated with that house for all prerequisites and requirements.  They gain one spell-like ability associated with the least dragonmark of the house they have selected which can be used once per day.  The DC of the saving throw for this ability is 10 + the level of the spell + the creature's charisma modifier.  The caster level for this ability is 1 + 1/2 your character levels.
* Lesser Dragonmark: The creature is treated as if they had the Lesser Dragonmark feat associated with their chosen house for all prerequisites and requirements.  They gain one additional use of the spell-like ability they selected for the Least Dragonmark ability, and gain the use of one spell-like ability associated with the lesser dragonmark of their house.  The saving throw for both spell-like abilities has a DC of 10 + the level of the spell + the creature's charisma modifier.  The caster level of the spell-like abilities increases to 6 + 1/2 your character levels.
* Improved Least Dragonmark: The creature chooses to gain an additional use of the spell-like ability they selected for the Least Dragonmark ability or to gain an additional spell-like ability associated with the least dragonmark of the house they have selected which can be used once per day.
* Improved Lesser Dragonmark: The creature chooses to gain an additional use of the spell-like ability they selected for the Lesser Dragonmark ability or to gain an additional spell-like ability associated with the lesser dragonmark of the house they have selected which can be used once per day.
* Greater Dragonmark: The creature is treated as if they had the Greater Dragonmark feat associated with their chosen house for all prerequisites and requirements.  They gain one additional use of the spell-like ability they selected for the Least Dragonmark ability and the Lesser Dragonmark ability, and gain the use of one spell-like ability associated with the greater dragonmark of their house.  The saving throw for both abilities has a DC of 10 + the level of the spell + the creature's charisma modifier.  The caster level of the spell-like abilities increases to 10 + 1/2 your character levels.
* Improved Greater Dragonmark: The creature chooses to gain an additional use of the spell-like ability they selected for the Greater Dragonmark ability or to gain an additional spell-like ability associated with the greater dragonmark of the house they have selected which can be used once per day.
[/spoiler]

[Omen of Peace]

Are there any ways to get Enchantment spells and Mindsight to work on undead?

Song of the Dead is the feat Sinfire mentioned ; Mindsight does work on intelligent undead.